The opposing armies in the battle of Stones River, December 31, 1862–January 2, 1863, had each lost about one-third of their men killed, wounded, or missing. In the six months that followed, the Union Army of the Cumberland under Major General William S. Rosecrans had remained at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, while the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General Braxton Bragg occupied Tullahoma, thirty-five miles to the south. Rosecrans began advancing on June 23 and executed a series of flanking maneuvers that forced Bragg to retreat across the Tennessee River on July 6. After pausing to repair bridges and build up supplies, Rosecrans resumed his offensive on August 16. By crossing the Tennessee downriver from Chattanooga, he again outflanked Bragg and forced him to evacuate the town, a strategic railroad junction, on September 8. As Rosecrans advanced into the mountains of northwest Georgia, Bragg received reinforcements from Mississippi, eastern Tennessee, and Virginia. The two armies skirmished on September 18, then began fighting the next day in the dense woods along the western side of West Chickamauga Creek, about eight miles south of Chattanooga. William W. Heartsill had enlisted in 1861 in the W. P. Lane Rangers, a Texas cavalry company that was captured at Arkansas Post in January 1863. Exchanged in April, the men of the Lane Rangers joined an infantry brigade led by Brigadier General James Deshler. As part of the division commanded by Major General Patrick Cleburne, Deshler’s Brigade fought on the Confederate right wing at Chickamauga, attacking the Union lines south of Winfrey Field at dusk on September 19 and at the southern end of Kelly Field the following morning.
Whartons Cavalry is passing down the mountain and in 15 minutes firing of small arms commences and now as the sun is rising the fire is quite lively only one shot from the Big guns up to this time. The firing with Whartons men is waxing warm. 7 oclock our Cavalry has just charged the enemy and compelled him to fall back with a loss of one killed (a Geo Captain) and 8 wounded. 8 oclock our Batterries are keeping up the music on the right verry lively the enemy remains quiet except his sharp shooters. ½ past 8 all is now quiet General orders No 108 from Gen Bragg announcing the check of the enemy twice in his attempt at flanking and that now this army would press forward and compell him to fight even on his own ground. Gen B. calls upon his men to stand as true as in the days of Murfreesboro Shiloh Perryville & victory will crown our arms. To the world wee can say from what wee have seen that the Army of Tennessee is enthusiastic & will come out victorious if the Enemy will give us any thing like a fair showing. Either Ewell or Longstreet is here with troops from Va. at 1 oclock Adams Brigade comes up our Brigade goes to the foot of the Pass at 3. our Batterys open again on the enemy without a reply, at 4 oclock the small arms are rattling lively again, at 5 our Brigade is thrown forward on the right and now at sunset our Company is thrown forward along the fence of a cornfield with orders to hold the Woods in our rear at all hazzards and while I am writing the enemy is not idle They are some 1½ miles in front of us & The Smokey sides of Look out mountain looms up still beyon them while clouds of smoke and dust plainly indicates that they are preparing as well as wee for the deadly work of tomorrow. If wee are not greatly mistaken this time tomorrow will see many a throbing heart cease many that will be cold and stiff in death that little think twill be him. wee know not our fate and would not if wee could but leave all to him who governs the world as well as the lives of mortal man
Sept 18 The pickets kep up a slow but continious rattle of musketry all night, but our lines was not molested. At daybreak wee were called in an now at sunup are resting at the foot of the pass. 7 oclock all the infantry is gone and our Co is ordered to bring up the rear Some Cavalry are left to guard the Gap. Wee Soon wind up the mountain and at 10 oclock wee pass within two miles of Lafayett. Two miles farther on the road and now wee can plainly hear connonnading in the direction of Lee & Gordons mills, on the road wee meet Capt Nutt from the Hospital also Lawrence & McCain They thinking it too hazardous to cross the Mississippi river come back to share our fate for Good or bad. 12 oclock wee have been ordered to our Brigade and are now resting in a meadow This is the first fall day and by the by a fine one for fighting Fall in Fall in comes ringing down the Brigade and of course I stop writing and fall in. one mile on the road and the cannonnading is geting loud thick and fast and the prospects are magnificent for us to get into a brush this evening one ock and wee are now in line of Battle on the right of the road and in verry good trim for a fight The evening wears away evry moment we expected to start and now at Sunset all is quiet From what I can see wee have plenty of troops and if Rosy will give us an opportunity he will see that the ocupation of East Tennessee is dearly bought. The clouds are flying from North to South and as wee are all siting around our Camp fires chating over the pending fight the first chilly winds of Autumn is blowing about our ears. A great many of the men have not even one Blanket and now as I am just rolling up in my old Green army coat to roll down on a pile of leaves to think and dream of comeing events or of loved ones at home oh how many aching hearts would be ore our country did they but know wha a few days will bring forth Cruel Cruel war and thrice cruel invaders that come to drench our sunny south in blood and drag us to worse than slavery Up southrons and strike for God and our native land may the God of the right hover ore our Battle flag and may our independance be dated, from the begining of this pending contest that it is to be one of the most sanguinary and decisive battles of the war no one doubts. Wee close for the night while at evry camp fire nothing but the coming struggle is discused
Sept 19 This morning is still cool but the day promises to be verry pleasant. at 7 oclock cannonading is ringing some three miles toward Chattanooga and now at 8 all is quiet Courrirs are dashing to and fro all in perfect motion. our position here is at present the reserve of the extreme left Gen Hills HcQts are some two hundred yards down the road on the right at the forks of the road one leading to Chattanooga the other west toward Lookout mountain 10 oclk the roar of Battle is pealing forth on the right. The cannonnading is terrific wee cannot hear the small arms on account of the distance and hills on our right 11 oclk The battle still rages we have rumors that Breckenridge & Longstreet have crossed the Chicamauga driving the enemy before them The rattle of musketry is now geting close at ½ past 11 wee are called into lines and expect to moove at any moment. ¼ to 12 wee moove to the right other troops are pooring down the valley. at 12 the fight is raging verry heavy. This fight decides whether this shall be a long or a short war our Boys are confidend. Wee march quick and double quick for 5 miles and have the pleasure of wading the chicamauga below Lee & Gordons mills. The fireing is now on our left and is quite lively wee pass 150 prisoners in one group and several smaller squads some are wounded. At 5 oclock wee are now about the center of the army the firing is verry heavy on our left for the past 4 hours The fight has raged with unceasing furry our boys at sunset have driven them some two miles. wee have just passed annother squad of prisoners. Our wounded are scatered around in large numbers at dark Deshlers Brigade is on the front and the fight is increasing on our right and continues until 8 oclock our Brigade participated on the right and Col Wilkes Regt. took 250 prisons and now at 9 oclock all is quiet we are the front line. Wee have seen 7 yankee stand of collors and some 4 or 5 hundred prisoners from the fight on our extreme left at L & Gs mills wee have no news. The 7th Texas is heare some of the Boys saw Capt Talley of Marshall who is now nobly braving dangers for his native state. Nearly all the Texans are here and will give a good account of The Lone Star State. Wee manuver all night do not get a particle of sleep wee pass over a large number of Dead Yankes
Sept 20 Annother sunday and evry prospect of a fierce conflict between mighty armies at day break wee advance in line of Battle wee are waiting paitiently for the dread conflict of to day. The woods wee are now show evidence of the fierce fight of yesterday There is an abundance of Dead Yankees scatered around. our Litter corps have carried all the enemys wounded to the rear that can be found. 7 oclock skirmishing has commenced in front. 8 oclock the artillery has just opened Cheathams men are opening the Ball fineley. Gens Brag & Hill have just passed to the front at 9 oclock Deshlers brigade is ordered forward. wee front forward about face right & left flank quick and double quick for about 3 miles and take our position in the center on a ridge amidst a perfect storm of Grape stoom solid shot and minie balls which are pooring in on us from the valley beyond. Wee lay down and thus escape destruction at 9 oclock Gen Deshler is killed by shell it is usless to pass eulogies upon Gen D. for to know him was to love him and evry man in his Brigade regrets his death. Col Wilks is wounded therefore the Command fall upon Col Mills—our Brigade holds the position althou the enemy try evry means to disloge us at 3 oclock the fight became general and until sun set never did the roar of Battle peal louder it seemed that the verry heavens and earth shook and then the triumphant shout that went up at sun set our Boys are driving them back in fact they are in full retreat our victory is completed and now at 9 oclock I am writing by a federal Camp fire wee have captured a good number of Prisoners and several Battery wee must wait for particulars. our Brigade lost about 200 killed & wounded. Our Company* two wounded and four missing none of the W P L Rs were wounded. Wee have to night passed over part of the Battle ground and find the Yanks in perfect heaps. wee have work before us for Rosey will certainly hold us a lively string for the next few days it is bed time I must sleep for our work is fairly begun
Sept 21 This is a lovely morning and a perfect calm succeeds yesterdays Battle, wee can get no particulars of yesterdays work but it is satisfactory all our missing are in except Alvin Anderson but think he is not hurt. Deshlers Brigade held a position that two other brigades failed in. The Enemy has splendid brest works in our front & on the right Their works were made of large logs notched and fited close. They were stongly fortified but our Boys were too determined for them Clebourns Division suffered severly expecially Woods Brigade 8 oclock Anderson comes in all right. The loss of our Brigade is heavier than wee at first thought it will run up to near 400 killed and wounded. Sunset and wee are still at our last nights camp and from what wee can learn, Meinhier Rosecrance is in full retreat to chattanooga wee can form nothing like an acurate list of killed wounded & prisoners Wee have orders to be ready to march at a moments notice. our army is in motion Northward and day light may see us several miles from this camp. a stroll over part of the Battle field this evening was any thing els but pleasant wee can but forgive an Enemy even as savage a foe as the Federal Soldiers is when wee see him stiff in death or suffering from wounds. The sight was truly hart rending The enemys dead greatly outnumber ours The woods caught fire last night and a number of the dead are badly burned but it was unavoidable at dark wee fall in and march toward Chattanooga for two miles then take a right hand road Company C & Nutts Co were flankers on the left and a sweet time wee had through corn fields meadows over hills & hollows across ravines and up cliffs & Bluffs & at 2 oclock wee camp but dont ask us where at for wee do not know but think wee are in the neighbourhood of Graysville or Chicamauga Depot
Sept 22 This morning wee are awakened by the welcome words come and draw your rations which command is obeyed verry punctually by evry man. Upon looking around wee are camped on the south bank of the Chicamauga and about 3 miles from the Depo. as to what is up by this moovment none of us have the least idea but I guess Rosy will find that Corpl Bragg is wide awake. Wee marched two miles and camp once more in old Tennessee. Maj Van Zandt of the 7th Tex came over to see us this evening from him wee learn that Lieutenant L R Bayless of our Co died at Pine Bluff Ark some months ago also that several others of the Company are dead but he had forgoten their names. This camp is about 5 miles East of Chattanooga.
Sept 23 At 7 oclock wee march and 3 miles wee reach the top of Missionary Ridge here The view of Lookout Valley is verry fine while the fortifications and suburbs of Chattanooga is to our right along the river in front of us looms up Lookout mountain. at the fork of the Ridge wee file to the left and cross our line of Battle and from along the ridge near two miles from the foot of Lookout mountain The enemy is verry active and it is believed he is evacuating the place as Smoke is bursting forth from different parts of the Town and clouds of dust indicate such a moovment. at 2 oclock wee march in colum and in 1 mile of Town are again thrown into line our Brigade is on the right of Gen Breckenridges Division. The Enemy have evry few minutes made known his presents by shelling us from the fortifications—at sunset orders from Gen Bragg announcing a complete victory and rout of the enemy on the field of Chicamauga and that too over superior numbers He however reminds us that while wee drop a tear to our brave comrades who fell by our sides on the hard fought Battle of the 18th 19 & 20 of Sept wee must now press forward to new victorys and drive the invaders from our land So Gen Bragg has named the Battle field and the thrilling victory of Chicamauga will send a throb of joy and thanksgiving throughout our land. Wee hardly think the enemy will give us battle on this side of the river but to morrow will tell what his intentions are
Sept 24 At day break this morning the Feds commenced shelling our lines and kepp it up quite brisk for an hour and now at 8 oclock skirmishing is going on to our left & near the foot of the mountain Longstreet is on the left at 8 oclock all is quiet. At 9 wee fall back and form a line along the foot of the ridge our artillery is in position 50 yards in front. here wee remain until Sunset The enemy keeping up a continuous but slow cannonading all day. our artillery has advanced some 200 yards There is a little sharp shooting going on and from the direction of the cannonading on the right & left our forces must bee surrounding the Enemy. It is now growing dark the valley is full of smoke & dust which prooves activity of troops below. To morrow old Lookout mountain will I think shake to its foundation with the roar of Battle. Wee dread the nights as they are so verry cool and the days are verry warm. The common expression of the Boys is freeze in the night & thaw in the day. While I am writeing Longstreets artillery is thundering away to the left near Lookout and in fact it seems to be even beyon the mountain. Lawrence & McCain have gone to the rear verry sick Leaving of the Rangers present Lt. Smith Sergt Heartsill & Elgin—Privates A H M Vanderson—Bence Beard & Watson. Hamlett is at his post as the Boys call him 3rd doctor In our line of Artillery in front of us is 36 pieces, forty yards apart making 678 artillery horses in one line look out Rosey or somebody will get hurt.
Sept 25 Wee rested finely until midnight when the rapid fire of musketry in front of us soon aroused us and by the time wee were in line cannon was belching forth and at the dead calm hour of midnight the moon shining lovely a sharp little battle is rageing in Lookout Valley. wee are thrown forth in front of our artillery and in an hour all is quiet Can you guess what commenced the fight to night twas this the Federal pickets had their super brought out to them and was just gathering around to eat when our boys who are allways wide a wake made a dash upon them and after a slight resistance they took to their heels and left their super to the Rebs Two Boxes passed by us while in line containing Bread &cc so much for bringing Eatiables in sight of starving Rebles after all was quiet wee are ordered back to our old position and pass the remainder of the night without molestation—and at day light this morning wee are thrown forward again and are some ¼ mile in front of our line of artillery nothing but an occasional shot from the pickets to remind us that Roseys men are near us and to keep a sharp look-out. 8 oclock The yanks are busy building brest works while their Bands keep up one continuous strain of music. At 11 oclock wee back again to the ridge and at 12 wee forward and take a position 600 yards from the foot of the ridge and by sunset wee have first rate brest works made of rails Rocks and Logs. Slow cannonadeing is going on to our left, wee are verry well fixed for minie balls and grape but wont do for 12 pounders wee will do the best wee can four of the Co return from the Hospital in the number is Snediker and wee are glad to see him improving so finely. Wee are verry much in hopes wee may get to rest to night but it is doubtful. and now for a snack and then down in the dirt for a nights rest behind brest works
Sept 26. This morning at daybreak our Pickets advance and drove the enemy to his intrenchments now at 8 oclock all is quiet except our Boys strengthing their works. It is reported that only about 5000 Federals are now in Chattanooga. Longstreet has possesion of the Rail Road below town thereby forcing the enemy to evacuate the place by crossing the mountina oposite. It is also reported that Forrest has captured a large number of wagons loaded with commissary stores verry good if true Some wounded men by this mornings skirmish have just passed. They say they killed several yankees Wee spent the remainder of the day without molestation and now preparing for another nights rest behind our works
Sept 27. All is quiet even the Pickets appear to have reaverance for the sabath for scarcly a shot has been fired to this time 9 oclock. Wee receiv orders to strengthen our works as our artilleryists will give us a bit of fun on to morrow. Wee all work finely in fact I blistered my hands I hardly think twould have been the case at any other work. But men will work at brest works when they will work at nothing els. Capt Nutt called at Gen Braggs HcQts and is satisfied that wee will get to cross the river after this campaign is over. Weaver returned & ready for the fun
Sept 28 The morning wears away and wee learn that the order to open fire this morning was countermanded at any rate there has been no firing up to this time 12 oclock. at 10 oclock wee witnessed the shooting of a deserter he left his command at Tullahoma July 1st and was caught after the fight on the Chickamaga having joined the Federals he had on the Federal Uniform After prayer by an aged minister the guilty man kneeling the command was given Aim Fire and Henry Roberts of Co K 26th Tenn paid the penalty of his crime Wee have had the pleasure of seeing a large *number of Harrison County Boys sience the late Battle in the Number Lieutenants Allen Woodson & Lipscombe also Charley & Jno Bedell Jno Smith Dan Dapplemyer Jno Weebb Jim Bradfield Ringold Hynson. Wee are sorry to learn that several were wounded in the number is Felix Johnson Henry Mills Lee Sanders & Joe Alford & Howell Lewis. but hope to meet all the Boys one more in Marshall when the trials and privations of camp life is over and the war at an end then wee can talk over our strugle for independance and laugh at our hairbreadth escapes long marches through mud dust Rain hail storm winter & Summer In after days wee will think of the Rapidan Raphanoc Patomac Chicahomini Big Black Peal Tennessee Yazzoo Chicamauga and other waters by whose sides our camp fires have glittered and when the Battles of Raymond Jackson Fort Doneldson Ark Post Richmond Gettysburg 2nd Manasses Shepherdstown Chickamauga and scores of other are mentioned wee will remember that Texans bled upon that day and sealed our caus with patriots Blood Those are days to come the present wee are now enjoying in Brest works ½ mile in front of the enemy works. our rations are brought to us evry day cooked and they are of verry short allowance in fact rather too much so I am sure wee could eat as much more. Wee must not however complain as it is some distance to our nearest Depot station and then wee have the consolation of knowing if Rosey get any thing to eat he must haul it over cumberlane mountains as our forces have possession of the Railroads above and below the Town This condition of affairs will certainly force a fight or retreat from the enemy in a few days. If a fight is the result I think wee are fully prepared
*Benge slightly wounded
*H Rains Engine Mundon Curry Atkins Lee Ward Blalack Lieut Perry.